Confirmed with Link: Austin Watson joins Red Wings for training camp PTO

[ShanahanMan]

The Panthers as a whole are a tough team. There's no point on that roster as they have the player personnel already in place. Wings are a much less physical team, which could benefit from an enforcer type

Seider plays a huge physical game. Ed is like 6’7. That’s not enough?

 

[izlez]

Would Watson be an upgrade from what we had in Kostin?

 

[newfy]

I’ll bite on this just because I’m genuinely curious. Who did the Panthers or Knights have who’s sole purpose was to enforce and made a genuine impact for their cup run?

Ryan Lomberg is cut from the exact same cloth as Watson, Watson is a better player than Jonah gadjovich who was good enough to play half the season with the panthers. Kolesar for Vegas is also a similar player to Watson

Seider plays a huge physical game. Ed is like 6’7. That’s not enough?

No, it’s not. The wings have gotten pushed around consistently the last couple years. Compare those 2 and chiarot as your “huge physical” guys to Vegas or the panthers, it’s not that close

And do you really want your best 2 dmen having to be the ones that worry about that

 

[ShanahanMan]

Ryan Lomberg is cut from the exact same cloth as Watson, Watson is a better player than Jonah gadjovich who was good enough to play half the season with the panthers. Kolesar for Vegas is also a similar player to Watson

No, it’s not. The wings have gotten pushed around consistently the last couple years. Compare those 2 and chiarot as your “huge physical” guys to Vegas or the panthers, it’s not that close

And do you really want your best 2 dmen having to be the ones that worry about that

I mean, I guess we’ll just have to disagree on relevance here. Lomberg was a healthy scratch a lot of the playoffs last year so I don’t think he was that important to their success, just like Kostinin didn’t make much of a difference either but to each their own.

 

[14ari13]

Ryan Lomberg is cut from the exact same cloth as Watson, Watson is a better player than Jonah gadjovich who was good enough to play half the season with the panthers. Kolesar for Vegas is also a similar player to Watson

No, it’s not. The wings have gotten pushed around consistently the last couple years. Compare those 2 and chiarot as your “huge physical” guys to Vegas or the panthers, it’s not that close

And do you really want your best 2 dmen having to be the ones that worry about that

The team has been pushed around for at least 2 decades

 

[heyfolks]

Seider plays a huge physical game. Ed is like 6’7. That’s not enough?

On the blue line, yes. The Wings need a more physical presence on the Wings.

 

[Winger98]

For me the ideal would be to have some toughness up and down the lineup. Every line should have some grit to it and be willing to take body and go into the corners.

with Watson specifically, I think he's being undersold a bit by some as an actual hockey player. In the past he has held down over a minute of PK every night and did well at it. He's physical beyond his fists and can be trusted to a regular shift without being a liability. Him being on the team and seeing occasional action is more than just dressing a goon.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

Moving on from Veleno and/or Berggren because you want Kane and Watson on a rebuilding team would be top tier asset-management...

It wouldn’t be awful asset management. Veleno and Berggren are dime-a-dozen players. When the Wings are good, it’s highly likely that neither player is on the roster.

Veleno is a younger Jay McClement. A good hockey guy, but not someone who is irreplaceable. Berggren is still a one-way forward. And if I’m icing a one-way forward, give me PPG Patrick Kane over half a PPG Berggren.

The Wings aren’t rebuilding. They’re aiming for the playoffs. They’ve got the core they’re working with and are trying to get playoff better now. For them to “rebuild” now would take them bottoming out the roster of quite a few guys.

 

[cvaicunas]

Seider plays a huge physical game. Ed is like 6’7. That’s not enough?

I know you've watched a Panthers game before. That TEAM is far more physical than the Wings. And no, two players does create a team wide style of play

 

[Snuggs]

I’ll bite on this just because I’m genuinely curious. Who did the Panthers or Knights have who’s sole purpose was to enforce and made a genuine impact for their cup run?

Jonah Gadjovich.
Keegan Kolesar


* I'm fighting for the guy(watson) a little too hard. Lol, I really don't care if he makes the team that bad, just think he's a good fit for what Wings are missing.

 

[Dotter]

Sign him.

 

[Retire91]

Not sure if I am a fan of someone who is purely a physical presence. Watson doesn't have a contract for a reason, We are past the days where you can have a roster slot on someone who just hits. He is like Dylan McIlrath the forward version.

 

[Geezer WC]

Not sure if I am a fan of someone who is purely a physical presence. Watson doesn't have a contract for a reason, We are past the days where you can have a roster slot on someone who just hits. He is like Dylan McIlrath the forward version.

I liked Jordin Tootoo.

 

[Snuggs]

Not sure if I am a fan of someone who is purely a physical presence. Watson doesn't have a contract for a reason, We are past the days where you can have a roster slot on someone who just hits. He is like Dylan McIlrath the forward version.

A guy with 500 plus games is the D version of someone who's only played 75 games. Again, Watson is no Patrick Maroon, but the player comparisons are completely disingenuous from people around here.

It's really better to just say you'd like other forwards/players on the roster (and I even understand that part) vs comparing him too guys that aren't good at all to prove your point. Watson would have a role on this team, likely not an everyday player, physical enforcer while also a PK specialist. I really think he should be on this team before Tyler Motte but, that's just me personally. Motte is a career fringe player just like Watson, except Watson brings a element to the game Motte could never because of the size difference between the two.

 

[13to40]

I liked Jordin Tootoo.

I was rooting for him when he was brought into the organization.


As for Watson, I think he’s done enough this preseason to earn a league minimal contract. He can be rotated in and out of the line up as a 12/13F.

This team is too soft to not add such a player to the roster. He isn’t just a meathead, will probably net ~5 goals and can PK if need be as well.

Ideally he plays 30-40 games this season while being rotated in and out for probably Berggren.

 

[theYman]

Well Lalonde spoke about him in a presser in a way that seems favorable. Possibly a contract is in the works. I take it or leave it. It would be nice to be able to put him in when it warrants it like when we play the Panthers

 

[Dotter]

I was rooting for him when he was brought into the organization.


As for Watson, I think he’s done enough this preseason to earn a league minimal contract. He can be rotated in and out of the line up as a 12/13F.

This team is too soft to not add such a player to the roster. He isn’t just a meathead, will probably net ~5 goals and can PK if need be as well.

Ideally he plays 30-40 games this season while being rotated in and out for probably Berggren.

I agree. It's good to have toughness on standby. Watson looked like a useful NHL player. If they can find the money in the budget to pay him, then sign him. It's a no brainer.

I wasn't impressed enough with Mazur or Danielson to deserve a call up. Kasper yes, but the other forwards need to bulk up. Watson can step up and be an impact player by his physicality and willing to stand up for teammates immediately.

Also, I really don't see a future with Berggren in the red and white sweater. I would not be surprised to see Yzerman put him on the trade block. He would be good on team that can shelter him... ala, Boston.

 

[13to40]

I agree. It's good to have toughness on standby. Watson looked like a useful NHL player. If they can find the money in the budget to pay him, then sign him. It's a no brainer.

I wasn't impressed enough with Mazur or Danielson to deserve a call up. Kasper yes, but the other forwards need to bulk up. Watson can step up and be an impact player by his physicality and willing to stand up for teammates immediately.

Also, I really don't see a future with Berggren in the red and white sweater. I would not be surprised to see Yzerman put him on the trade block. He would be good on team that can shelter him... ala, Boston.

100% agree with everything you mentioned above.

I think Berggren is on the shortest of leashes to start the year. Hoping for the best, but not expecting much.

Everyone has their opinions of where he should be slotted in the line up, quite frankly I think he’s not quite good enough for top 6 and definitely gritty enough or defensively responsible for bottom 6.

If he could be moved for a prospect of similar nature who needs a fresh start as he does. Fantastic. Otherwise I don’t think his value is much. Mid to late round pick.

Mazur I thought showed quite a few glimpses of what we can expect him to bring to the squad when he’s full time in 1-2 seasons. Danielson I hope they take the longer developmental route with and let him ripen. I think the quicker he’s brought up, the lower his ceiling will be. Let him develop into a 1-2C and give him the minutes and responsibilities at the lower level to let him learn.

As for Watson, there is even use for him in the AHL to protect the younger players who will be down there this year. So whether or not he gets the contract with the big team that I think he deserves, he still holds value for the team in the minors as well.